County Profile

Aroostook

Known to many as “The County” or “The Crown of Maine,” geographically Aroostook County is Maine’s largest county. It is, in fact, the largest county this side of the Mississippi and larger than the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.

Known for its Nordic sports and Acadian culture, Aroostook was historically viewed as an agriculture powerhouse, producing broccoli, potatoes, hay, small grain rotation crops, it is emerging as a leader in wind power.

Aroostook

Aroostook County at a Glance:

The estimated poverty rate in Aroostook County is 17.7%.*

Nearly 22% of children under 18 live in poverty.**

34.2% of children in Aroostook County receive SNAP benefits, 54.2% of school-aged children are eligible for subsidized school meals.**

26.4% of children are living with food insecurity.**

The infant mortality rate in Aroostook County is 8.1 per 1,000.**

9.3 per every 1,000 children in Aroostook County are in DHHS custody.**

59% of children in Aroostook County participate in MaineCare.**

47.2% of people in Aroostook County are not currently in the workforce.*

18.9% of the population is under the age of 18.*

12.4% of the population achieved a high school degree; 20% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.*

The high school graduation rate for Aroostook County is 90.3%.**

*Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2012-2016

**Source: Maine Kids Count

Grants Awarded in this Region

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Date

Organization

Award

Description

Location

2020

Northern Lighthouse Inc

$20,000

To provide case management services to homeless youth in Aroostook County, including connecting youth with available housing, mental health services, employment supports, safe family reunification and applying for social service benefits.

Presque Isle, ME

2019

United Way Of Aroostook

$5,000

To support the purchase of clothing items that can not be sourced secondhand for distribution to low-income people accessing the Kids Community Closets in Aroostook County.

To provide support for the Family Coach program, which pairs families who are vulnerable with coaches to assist them in meeting their housing and other basic needs.

Presque Isle, ME

2018

Four Directions Development Corporation

$15,000

To provide support for general operations to provide access to safe, quality housing for members of the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes, mostly located in Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington counties.

Orono, ME

2018

Friends of Baxter State Park

$20,000

To expand participation in the Baxter Youth Conservation Corps, giving young people in Maine’s Katahdin region work experience, job skills, and increased confidence and aspirations.

Belfast, ME

2016

Aroostook County Action Program

$25,000

To support the Energy Crisis Intervention Program, an effort that helps individuals and families manage crises such as homelessness or eviction in Aroostook County.

Presque Isle, ME

2016

Bath Housing Development Corporation

$25,000

To provide comprehensive technical assistance services to four Maine Public Housing Authorities as they replicate Bath Housing’s Community Aging in Place Program.

Bath, ME

2016

Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems

$20,000

To provide support for the Patient Assistance Fund to help cancer patients in Aroostook County with travel and lodging, and financial help for medication co-pays.

Presque Isle, ME

2016

Friends of Aroostook

$10,000

To provide funding to grow, maintain, harvest and deliver fresh produce to people in need living in Aroostook, Washington, Piscataquis and Penobscot counties.